Ellen Sterling, Huffington Post , July 27, 2014

"When this lovely night is the setting in which there is wonderful music, it turns from merely lovely to perfect. Opening the show were virtuoso pianist Svetlana Smolina and comedian Dave Konig. They were both terrific, first -rate talent".

Anja Renczikowski, Westdeutsche Allgemeine Zeitung

AFTER MIDNIGHT SPARKLED “THE BLACK MASS”

The culmination of the evening was the performance of the “Poeme de l’Extase”, op. 54, for two pianos and a trumpet, and the “Prometheus”, op. 60, for three pianos, both pieces transcribed by Toradze, later interpreted by himself with Svetlana Smolina and Maxim Mogilevsky – an acoustical and visual sea of flames (these works were recorded by WDRWestdeutscher Rundfunk television) came very near to the messianist ideas of the composer.

Sharon Torello, Local Arts Live

Music at Monica's

Smolina selected a mix of mostly romantic era music that contained so many rapid sequences that I'm quite sure I've never heard that many notes played on a piano in one concert before. The wonderfully balanced and lively acoustic and a brand new Steinway piano helped to highlight her fiery performance. Smolina somehow managed to maintain solid melodic clarity even in through the most finger blurring passages. The engaged audience gave her a rousing standing ovation in the end, and it wasn't one of those, slowly rising "I guess I should stand because everyone else is" ovations. It was a genuine expression of appreciation to a supremely talented musician"
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Richard Storm, Herald Tribune, Sarasota

"Smolina displayed full command and charmed her way through Preludes of op. 28. Playing with vigor and vitality, easily shifting from one mood to another, sure of technique and subtle phrasing.

The second part of program was devoted to Etudes and Waltzes. The pianist produced dazzling effects entirely appropriate to the genre. Smolina brought audience close to frenzy, just as dear Fryderick did in his concerts."

Graham Watts, Covent Garden Magazine, London

Laurence Hughes, Independent, the London

"It was a relief to move on to the Four Etudes op. 7 played with alternating deftness and thoughtfulness by Svetlana Smolina.. In the excerpts from The Firebird, Svetlana showed an energy and fire that were almost startling in so slight a frame... but any (orchestral) inadequacies were forgotten in the hushed intensity of those radiant chords leading into the final flourish…If Svetlana Smolina can be said to represent the future of Russian music, then surely we have nothing to fear for the great musical tradition of that remarkable country.”

Daniel Cariaga, Los Angeles Times

HEADLINE PIANIST SHOW STRAVINSKY' CHARM

“Smolina's defining of the lyrical aspects in the music she played made her performance cherishable... “

Recorded by Ian DeNolfo of Lion Recording Studios with the generous help and collaboration of Lloyd & Nora Frank of LoraNoyd reProductions. Special thanks to West Chester University of Pennsylvania's School of Music, an all Steinway school, for the use of their wonderful piano and hall.

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Guest at TV Vratsa

Tuesday, 12 May 2015

Svetlana will be a guest at TV Vratsa - watch her live interview together with Maestro Derek Glesson on May 12, at 8:30 PM on:http://www.tv-vratsa.bg/bg/programawith the repeat of the program on May 13, at 8:30 AM.

The SFSO Chamber Series

Monday, 04 May 2015

Chamber Music Series II
May Series
“Dances from the Heart”
Svetlana Smolina returns performing uplifting dances of J. Strauss, Chopin, Tchaikovsy, Schumann and Liszt.